Improvement in car-springs



I. B. QUIRK.

CAR-SPRINGS? No. 190,366. Patented May1 ,1877.

UNITE JOHN B. QUIBK, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR ONE- HALFHIS RIGHT TO A. B.'DAVIS, OF SAME PLACE.

IMPROVEMENT lN CAR-SPRINGS.

Specification forming part of'Letters Patent No. 190,366, dated May 1,1877; application filed February 14, 1877".

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JOHN B. QUIRK, of thecity and county of Philadelphia, and State of Pennsylvania, haveinvented a new and useful Improvement in Springs for Cars and Myinvention consists of a spring formedof a case having two or moreprojecting telescopic followers, and containing one or more long and oneor more short spiral springs, which are arranged side by side, and socombined with the followers that the long spirals are adapted for thelong range of the spring and the short spirals for the short rangethereof, the action of the followers being successive, whereby theweight-say of a caris first received by the long springs, so as to rideeasy, andthen, by successive action, the weight of thesubsequent load'isreceived by both long and short spirals, thus providing a spring ofendurance and power for heavy burdens.

Referring to the drawings, A represents a case, which may be of circularor angular form. B represents the top of the case, and U the bottomthereof, which latter is formed with two or more followers, 0 O", whichare fitted telescopically to each other and to the case, the follower Oprojecting below the fixed portion or ledge G of the bottom of the case,and the follower O projecting below the follower O, the .downward motionof the followers being limited by shoulders or stops on the ledge, andon one or both of the followers.

Within the case A there is located a series of short springs, D, ofspiral form, equal lengths, and arranged vertically, their upper endsbearing against the top B, and their lower ends bearing against theupper follower 0. Within the case, surrounded by the springs D, there isalso located a series of long springs, E, of spiral form, equal lengths,and arranged vertically, their upper ends bearing against the top B, andtheir lower ends bearing against the lower follower C.

The case will be properly located and so cured in position. Whenweightsay that of an empty or partially-loaded caris on the case, it isreceived by the follower O", and consequently carried by the longsprings E, whereby the car will ride easy, the power of the shortsprings not being brought into requisition.

When, however, the car is loaded so that the weightthereof exceeds thepower of the long springs, the follower G will close into the followerO, and the weight will be received by both followers 0 G, andconsequently carried by the combined action of the springs of the twoseries D E, whereby the entire power of the spring renders service.

It will be seen that provision is made for light or powerful action ofthe spirals, the power of the springs being successive relative toincreasing any heavy loads placed thereon, and the spring is effectiveand reliable at all times, its resilient power being available forpartial or entire service, accord ing to the conditions of the weighttransmitted to the spring.

It will also be seen that, as both ends of the springs are confined,displacement thereof is prevented, and the springs consequently retaintheir positions at all times.

I am aware that it is not new to employ springs of different lengths, sothat they may be brought into action successively, as required, tosustain light and heavy loads.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A case with two or more followers fitted thereto telescopically, andprojecting beyond each other and beyond the case, in combination withsprings which are successively brought into-action by successit e actionof the different followers, substantially as and for the purpose setforth.

2. The case A, with one or more telescopic followers and stop-ledge O,in combination with the short-range springs D and the longrange springor springs E, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

JOHN B. QUIRK.

Witnesses:

J OHN A. WIEDERSHEIM, A. P. GRANT.

